From Covington Independent Public Schools.

Holmes High School will have new leadership when it kicks off the 2025 varsity football season. Offensive Coordinator Jon Hopkins has been named the interim head coach replacing Ben Nevels. Nevels resigned earlier this month after a 12-year stint with the Bulldogs. 

“I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the new Head Football Coach at Holmes High School. My dedication to this school and community runs deep,” said Hopkins. “I love Holmes High School, I love this community, and I'm eager to bring that same passion and commitment to leading our football program. I look forward to working with our student-athletes, coaching staff, and the entire Bulldog family to achieve great success on and off the field.”

Hopkins has served as Holmes’ assistant football coach since 2001. He has also led the boys track team for 15 years. He has been a counselor at the school since 2007.

“With over three decades in education and 30 years on the football field—24 of them at Holmes High School—he has not only coached generations of athletes but built lasting relationships that now span parents and their children. His commitment to students and this community is unmatched,” said Ken Ellis, Holmes Athletic Director.

The Bulldogs will open the season on August 22 at Boone County High School.

2025 Varsity Football Schedule
August 22 – at Boone County High School
August 29 – vs. Ludlow High School
September 5 – vs. Green County High School
September 12 – at Holy Cross High School
September 19 - Open
September 26 – vs. Jackson City School (Homecoming)
October 3 – vs. Shelby County High School
October 10 – at Ohio County High School
October 17 – at Thomas Nelson High School
October 24 – at Lewis County High School
October 30 – vs. Scott High School

Congratulations to Mr. Hopkins.  To step into a situation like currently exists at Holmes shows that he cares about the school and the kids.  The football program appears to be on life support and hopefully he and his staff are able to breath life into things to keep it going for the next permanent coach, be it him or someone else.

1 hour ago, Tranquility Base said:

Congratulations to Mr. Hopkins.  To step into a situation like currently exists at Holmes shows that he cares about the school and the kids.  The football program appears to be on life support and hopefully he and his staff are able to breath life into things to keep it going for the next permanent coach, be it him or someone else.

Stepping out of district play is a tough move to make but I think it was the right one to help the program survive. I wouldn't say that they will be competing with Cov Cath or Highlands but give them a couple years and I think they will be okay. Good coaching hires recently for the basketball team and keeping a guy like Hopkins in house I think will help them retain majority of their talent that's in the middle school right now. Holmes has been getting hit hard for quite a while now with families moving or sending their kids to other schools. I look forward too seeing them improve and I like their schedule for them this year it should help the kids get some of their confidence back.

I like their schedule and they had a very young team that had some grit to them. Hopefully those kids stick with it because this hire along with that grit can get the program back on track.

Congratulation Coach Hop. You won't find many that are a better person than him. Truly cares about the kids and their life after football. You could go as far back as his time in Owen County and still hear his players talk highly of him. 

Congrats to Coach Hopkins! I hope the best for him and Holmes.